I am writing this letter out of concern for the owners of 10-12m cruisers/racers using berthage at Westhaven.
Some long-term leases are expiring on 29th Sept 2026 and being replaced with a full rental model. The rental for 10-12m berths will incur a cost of $900 per month.
As a retired yacht broker, but still active in club sailing, I feel very concerned when fellow yacht owners tell me they can no longer afford this new system and are fire-selling their yachts – some are even contemplating destroying them due to the marked-up costs.
These yachts are mostly designed in NZ and built by renowned names such as Bruce Farr, Jim Young, John Lidgard, Des Townson, Paul Whiting, Murray Ross, Bo Birdsall, Bob Stewart, Allan Wright, Laurie Davidson and others. Most top New Zealand yachtsmen and women have cut their teeth on these yachts and if these boats disappear, it will affect the viability of the Westhaven Yacht Clubs. Grass roots keeler racing and cruising is under threat at Westhaven.
Frontline Westhaven Management are sympathetic to this serious concern, but some higher authority needs to intervene. Much needed consideration is required to address this serious problem, and corrective action is urgently needed.
What a tragedy it would be to see these boats leave Westhaven, New Zealnd’s premier marina!
Tony Smith, by email
See John Macfarlane’s Reflections column in this issue for more on the changes at Westhaven, part one of a three-part series – Editor
